What action areas must the ocean community focus on to ensure a thriving ocean? What knowledge, capacity, and resources will drive the success of the UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development 2021-2030 (‘Ocean Decade’)? The newly released report “Ambition, Action, Impact: The Ocean Decade Pathway to 2030 – Consolidated Outcomes of the Vision 2030 Process” identifies key priorities and transformative actions to advance ocean knowledge and science as part of the Ocean Decade.
Click here to read the full report.
Launched on 10 October at the 2024 All-Atlantic Ocean Research and Innovation Alliance Forum in Ottawa, Canada, “Ambition, Action, Impact: The Ocean Decade Pathway to 2030 – Consolidated Outcomes of the Vision 2030 Process” synthesizes the key findings and outcomes of this year-long participatory, ambition setting process, which sets a clear pathway for achieving the science we need for the ocean we want by 2030.
“As we look to the future, this report serves as a testament to the Ocean Decade’s ability to adapt and evolve, aligning our actions with the urgent and changing demands of ocean sustainability,” said Julian Barbière, Head of Marine Policy and Regional Coordination at UNESCO and Global Coordinator of the Ocean Decade . “We warmly thank the Vision 2030 Working Group members, the members of the Decade Advisory Board, and hundreds of contributors from all over the world, whose invaluable input has shaped this important milestone in our collective journey.”
From its inception, the Ocean Decade was designed as an adaptive framework to address emerging issues through its ten Challenges. As we near the end of the fourth year of implementation of the Decade, their ongoing evolution is essential to the relevance, and thus the success, of the Decade.
Through Vision 2030, a tailored and specific end goal and associated milestones were established for each of these Challenges and discussed in dedicated sessions at the 2024 Ocean Decade Conference, with broad stakeholder engagement playing a pivotal role in this process.
Paving the way to 2030 with concrete actions
To meet the strategic ambition of the Ocean Decade Challenges, the ‘Ambition, Action Impact’ report outlines a set of high-level priorities for ocean science and knowledge over the coming years that look at the interactions between the Challenges and the enabling conditions that need to be established or strengthened to ensure that relevant and timely science and knowledge is generated and used for decision making.
These include tackling marine pollution, advancing ecosystem-based management, and exploring deep-sea biodiversity. Encouraging climate-resilient projects as well as sustainable fisheries and aquaculture, especially in developing nations, will also be essential for balancing environmental conservation with socio-economic benefits, in line with the concepts of ocean economy and ocean planning. With 40% of the world’s population living in coastal areas, the report also emphasizes the necessity of adaptive governance and management systems in assessing vulnerabilities and risks.
Fulfilling these recommendations will require concerted and collective action by the global ocean community. Strengthening national, regional, and international policy, with a focus on integrating Indigenous and local knowledge, will be crucial. Increased investment in ocean science, infrastructure, and capacity development – including from the industry and innovation sectors – will enhance the Ocean Decade’s capacity to generate and deliver science-based solutions. Establishing stronger links between scientists and communicators will make science more accessible and foster a more ocean-literate society.
Looking ahead, the Vision 2030 global outcomes will be translated into regional and national priorities to align global efforts with local needs, with a specific focus on Small Island Developing States, Least Developed Countries, and Early Career Ocean Professionals.
Successfully implementing the “Ambition, Action, Impact: The Ocean Decade Pathway to 2030” report means working across the science-policy-society interface, promoting multidisciplinary partnerships, and developing policies and innovative financial instruments to support ocean science. These objectives will be at the heart of the Ocean Decade’s engagement at the 2025 United Nations Ocean Conference in Nice, France, and pre-Conference Special Events, ensuring that all activities align with the strategic priorities outlined in the report.
Click here to read the full report.
For more information, please contact:
Ocean Decade Communications Team (oceandecade.comms@unesco.org)
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About the Ocean Decade:
Proclaimed in 2017 by the United Nations General Assembly, the UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development (2021-2030) (‘the Ocean Decade’) seeks to stimulate ocean science and knowledge generation to reverse the decline of the state of the ocean system and catalyse new opportunities for sustainable development of this massive marine ecosystem. The vision of the Ocean Decade is ‘the science we need for the ocean we want’. The Ocean Decade provides a convening framework for scientists and stakeholders from diverse sectors to develop the scientific knowledge and the partnerships needed to accelerate and harness advances in ocean science to achieve a better understanding of the ocean system, and deliver science-based solutions to achieve the 2030 Agenda. The UN General Assembly mandated UNESCO’s Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) to coordinate the preparations and implementation of the Decade.
About the UNESCO-IOC:
The Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of UNESCO (UNESCO-IOC) promotes international cooperation in marine sciences to improve management of the ocean, coasts and marine resources. The IOC enables its 150 Member States to work together by coordinating programmes in capacity development, ocean observations and services, ocean science and tsunami warning. The work of the IOC contributes to the mission of UNESCO to promote the advancement of science and its applications to develop knowledge and capacity, key to economic and social progress, the basis of peace and sustainable development.
